Chalk line device

ABSTRACT

A chalk line dispensing and storage device of plumbbob configuration includes a pair of mating side members defining a chalk-receiving chamber. The side members are interconnected by a releasable pivot including a shouldered recess in one of the members adjacent its mating surface and a depending tongue-like flange in the other side member pivotably receivable within the recess for firm engagement with the shoulder. The mating surfaces provide a chalk-tight seal through a snap-fit interconnection and the sides are further held by a separate releasable clamp mounted on the members in bridging fashion at a position remote from the releasable pivot. The side members of the casing apply a slight axial force on the crank arm for sealing the chamber in the crank area without causing misalignment of the separate chalk line reel mounted on the crank assembly.

[ June 10, 1975 CHALK LINE DEVICE Primary ExaminerHarry N. Haroian [75] Inventors: Robert Steven Hyde, East Hartford; gq Agent or Firm prutzman' Hayes Kalb &

Maarten Cornelis De Jong, Canton, both of Conn.

[ ABSTRACT A chalk line dispensing and storage device of plumbbob configuration includes a pair of mating side mem- [73] Assignee: The Stanley Works, New Britain,

Conn.

[22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 bers defining a chalk-receiving chamber. The side Appl. No.: 423,079

[52] US. Cl....... 33/87; 242/848 [51] Int. 844d 3/38 [58] Field of Search 242/84.8; 33/87; 220/31 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS further held by a separate releasable clamp mounted on the members in bridging fashion at a position re- 33/87 mote from die releasable pivot. The side members of 242/34-3 the casing apply a slight axial force on the crank arm for sealing the chamber in the crank area without causing misalignment of the separate chalk line reel mounted on the crank assembly.

1,219,473 3/1917 Meldrum 1,679,178 7/1928 Shillman............................ 2,589,500 3/1952 Landon et al.......... 3,576,271 4/1971 Seeley......r..........,....

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,568,389 4/1969 France..........r.................r. 220/31 R 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUH 10 ms 3.888111 0 FIG. 2

w w M Li /Z 70 CHALK LINE DEVICE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to chalk line dispensing devices suited for use as plurnbbobs and the like and is more particularly directed to a new and improved chalk line device of the type described.

An object ofthe present invention is to provide a new and improved chalk line dispensing and storing device of simplified low cost construction that permits rapid assembly without the need for threaded fasteners and functions as a plumbbob while obviating th necessity for a reel locking mechanism. Included in this object is the provision for a casing comprised of a pair of mating side members provided with a facile assembly feature which permits pivotable interconnection of the side members and retention thereof by a single resilient clamping piece.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved chalk line device of the type described that includes mating side members with interfitting surfaces adapted to be snapped together and to prevent chalk leakage from the casing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved chalk line dispensing and storing device of the type described that includes a resilient nose clamping member which serves to not only retain the casing halves in secure mating engagement but also provides a wear-resistant guide for the chalk line dispensed from the device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a chalk line device of the type described that includes a crank arm and hub adapted to cooperate with the side members of the device to assure effective sealing of the chalk chamber and prevent leakage of chalk therefrom. Included in this object is the provision for cooperative interengagement between the crank arm and the casing whereby the casing axially biases the crank arm into the desired sealing engagement.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in more detail hereinafter.

These and related objects are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by providing a chalk line dispensing and storage device comprised of a casing of plumbbob configuration having a line dispensing aperture in the top thereof and including a pair of mating side members defining a chalk chamber and having longitudinally extending mating surfaces preventing leakage of chalk from the chamber. A chalk line reel is rotatably mounted in the chamber and a chalk line is mounted on the reel and extends from the chamber through the top aperture. The side members of the easing are interconnected by a releasable pivot including a shouldered recess in one of the members adjacent its mating surface and :1 depending tongue-like flange in the other side member pivotably receivable within the recess for firm engagement with the shoulder. A sepa rate releasable clamp is mounted on the members in bridging fashion at a position remote from the releasable pivot and retains the mating side members in intimate surface contact to prevent separation thereof and leakage of the chalk from the chalk chamber.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing which set forth an illustrative embodiment indicative of the way in which the principles of the invention are employed.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partially broken away, illustrating a chalk line dispensing and storage device incorporating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of a portion of the device of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing in greater detail wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures, a chalk line dispensing and storage device embodying the features of the present invention is shown as comprised of a plumbbob type casing 10 having a generally pear-shaped configuration. The casing is comprised of front and rear mating side members, l2, 14 that are peripherally joined along a longitudinally extending mating line 16 and from an interior chalk receiving chamber 18. The mating surface of the front member 12 is undercut as at 20 (FIG. 3) and the mating surface of member 14 is provided with a complementary projection 22 to form an interfitted rabbeted seal well suited for preventing leakage of the chalk from the chamber 18. A chalk inlet port or opening 24 is provided adjacent the top or nose portion of the casing in communication with the interior of the chalk chamber 18. Additionally, each of the side members l2, 14 is provided with a suitably configured raceway 28 adapted to receive a slidable cover 30 movable between an open and closed portion for providing access to the chalk chamber and maintaining the chalk chamber and maintaining the chalk chamber in a closed condition during use of the chalk line dispensing and storage device. As shown in FIG. 1, the access port cover 30 may be provided with a detent knob 32 that cooperates with a projection 34 adjacent the raceway in one of the side members to maintain the cover in its closed condition, the projection being sufficiently resilient to permit passage of the detent thereacross as the cover is moved along the raceway 28 toward its open position.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the back side member 14 is shown as being provided with an integral truncated hub 36 and a radially spaced circular flange 38, both members projecting inwardly into chamber 18. The front side member 12 also is provided with an enlarged inwardly projecting flange 40 complementary to and in registry with flange 38 and a central aperture 42 coaxially aligned with the truncated hub 36 but of substantially greater diameter for receiving a crank arm assembly 44.

The assembly 44 includes a bifurcated main body portion 46 having a diameter only slightly smaller than central aperture 42, a base flange 48 extending radially outwardly from the periphery of the main body portion 48 and an integral hub 50 extending coaxially from the center of the main body portion 46 toward the back member 14 for a sufficient distance to engage the truncated hub 36 on that member. A felt ring seal 52 is mounted on an internal recess 54 at the periphery of the enlarged central aperture 42 so that when the side members are in assembled relationship the felt seal is compressably engaged by the peripheral flange 48 of assembly 44 to provide an appropriate seal for the chalk chamber at the crank arm location. Advantageously, the hub 36 of member 14 will exert a sufficient axial pressure on the crank arm assembly 44 to prevent free wheeling of the crank arm as the chalk line is paid out. This frictional control is preferably sufficient to maintain the chalk line in a taut condition during use.

As mentioned the main body portion 46 of the crank arm assembly 44 is bifurcated by a handle receiving slot 56. The handle 58 adapted to be stored within slot 56 is pivotably mounted therein on pivot pin 60 and can easily be moved through an arc of about 180 to assume a cranking position. As the handle is moved toward the cranking position the rear projection 62 thereof brushes the raised base portion 64 in slot 56 while an interference fit between portion 62 and the side walls of the slot 56 act to hold the crank arm in an appropriate position as the line is being withdrawn from the chalk chamber. In the embodiment illustrated the side walls of slot 52 are also provided with a pair of recesses 66 which cooperate with trunnions 68 on the handle 58 to releasably lock the crank arm in its stored position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In conventional fashion a chalk line 70 is wound about a reel 72 rotatably supported within the chalk chamber 18. As best shown in FIG. 2 the reel 72 is provided with a bore 74 that rests at one end on the truncated hub 36 of the back side member 14 and at its opposite end on the arcuate hub portion 50 of the crank arm assembly 44. A central, generally square portion 76 of the reel bore is drivably engaged by the square drive shaft portion 78 of the hub 50. This arrangement is particularly desirable since it provides alignment of the reel with both the crank arm and the side member of the casing but does not exert an axial force on the separate reel. Instead there is provided a sliding support at the point of contact between the bore 74 and the casing hub 36 and a support at the opposite end thereof that does not exhibit relative rotation between the reel and the crank arm. Additionally, as mentioned, the side members and 12 are provided with inwardly projecting circular flanges 38 and 40 disposed radially outwardly from the periphery of the reel 72 but adja cent thereto so as to limit the amount of chalk that might flow toward the hub of the crank arm and away from the chalk line 70.

As mentioned hereinbefore, teh casing 10 consists of a pair of front and rear side members 12, 14 having mating surfaces that define a chalk chamber 18 and are in intimate sealing engagement during assembly. This self-sealing feature of the present invention is achieved without the need for separate threaded fasteners since the side members are pivotably joined and snap together to form the desired closed chalk compartment 18 and are retained in this closed position by a separate independent resilient spring metal clamp 80 that bridges the side members 12, 14 at the nose of the casing and prevents disassembly thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2 the front side member 12 is provided with a lateral extension 82 at the bottom tip thereof below the chalk chamber 18. The lateral extension 82 projects well beyond the longitudinally extending mating surface of that member and provides a shelf or lip 84 on which the rear side member 14 rests. Additionally the front member 12 is provided with a circular aperture 86 that extends through the member 12 and abuts the projecting ledge 84 so that a shoulder 88 is formed by the ledge and the aperture at approximately the parting line 16 of the side members. The circular aperture 86 is located so that approximately the top semicircular half thereof is disposed above the ledge 84 while the bottom semicircular half thereof abuts the ledge to form the shoulder 88. The complementary rear side member is truncated so as to rest upon the shelf 84 and is additionally provided with a downwardly extending tongue-like flange 90 disposed within the same longitudinal plane as the chamber defining projection 22. The flange 90 is configured and positioned so that by simply tilting the nose portion of the back side member 14 away from the nose portion of member 12 the flange 90 will pass through the top semicircular opening provided by the round aperture 86. As the side members are pivoted toward each other the flange 90 moves into abutting relationship with the shoulder 88 to firmly secure the bottom tip of the casing. This quick connecting pivot or hinge not only facilitates the rapid assembly of the two side members 12, 14 but also firmly draws the bottom ends thereof into appropriate abutting relationship to assure that chalk leakage from the assembly is avoided.

In the preferred embodiment, the mating surfaces of the side members are further provided with a snap interference fit at approximately the broadest point along their pear-shaped configuration, that is at approximately the location of the line 3-3 of FIG. 1. Thus as best seen in FIG. 3, the mating surfaces of stepped or rabbetted construction are further provided with appropriate small protuberances designated by the numerals 94, 96 which cause the plastic side members to flex slightly in order for the mating surfaces to be brought into firm abutting relationship and provide the desired peripheral seal for the chalk chamber 18.

Although the snap interlock provided on the mating surfaces of the respective side members is not of substantial holding power, it is sufficient to unify the casing and maintain it in a firmly assembled condition capable of full use even without the presence of the retaining clamp 70. The clamp 70 assures retention of the assembled side members in their assembled condition under shock conditions such as when the chalk line is dropped or otherwise treated in a rough manner.

The retaining clamp 70 is advantageously the only metal component in the entire device and is preferably a U-shaped spring metal member which bridges the two side members of the casing at the nose portion thereof and is retainably held in place through the cooperative retentive action of the inwardly contoured end tabs 98 0f the clamp with the shouldered recesses 100 and 102 located in the respective side members 12 and 14 of the casing. The spring metal clamp 70 is also provided with a central aperture 104 in the flat bridging portion thereof, which aperture is disposed in alignment with an aperture 106 of the case through which the chalk line 70 extends. Preferably the aperture 104 is provided with an inward flare which functions as a wear-resistant guide for the chalk line 70 as it moves between its extended and retracted positions.

In conventional fashion the chalk line casing 10 is further provided with a line wipe 108 of felt like material that is captively held by the side members l2, l4

within the interior of the casing immediately adjacent the line delivery aperture 106.

As can be appreciated from the foregoing detailed description the chalk line dispensing and storage device of the present invention is of simple yet durable construction and includes pivotably interconnected side members retained in assembled relationship by a tongue and shouldered recessed pivot at one end thereof and the snap-fit interference interconnection at its broadest point coupled with a resilient nose clip that is easily mounted over the nose of the case to assure retention of the side members in their assembled condition. Additionally the nose clamp advantageously provides a wear-resistant guide for the chalk line while the casing is constructed so as to apply a slight axial pressure on the hub of the crank arm to react against and prevent free wheeling rotation of the reel without causing misalignment of the reel. This friction control also maintains the chalk line in a taut condition during use and obviates the need for a separate stop or release mechanism for the line. The casing is also provided with a sliding door of rigid plastic material which permits ready access to the tightly sealed chalk chamber and the internal configuration of the side members is such as to restrict the flow of the chalk toward the rotating hub and retain the chalk within the line contacting chalk chamber.

As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, various modifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

We claim:

1. A chalk line dispensing and storage device comprising a casing of plumbbob configuration having an aperture in the top thereof, said casing including a pair of mating side members defining a chalk chamber and having longitudinally extending mating surfaces, a chalk line reel rotatably mounted in said chalk chamber, a chalk line mounted on the reel and extending from the chamber through said top aperture, said side members being interconnected by a releasable pivot including a shouldered recess in one of said members adjacent said mating surface and a depending flange in the other of said side members pivotably receivable within the recess for engagement with the shoulder, a mountable resilient clamp bridging said side members at a position remote from said releasable pivot and interconnected therewith to retain the mating surfaces in intimate engagement and prevent separation thereof, a compressible seal and a crank assembly mounted on one of said side members for engagement with said seal, said crank assembly including a drive shaft mounting the reel for rotation therewith, said casing side members axially biasing said crank assembly into frictional engagement with said seal to prevent free wheeling rotation of said reel while sealing the chalk chamber at said crank assembly,

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said crank assembly has a hub portion, one of said side members has a hub portion and said reel is supported for rotation on the hub portions of both said crank assembly and said side member.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said casing is a rigid plastic member having relatively pointed tip and nose portions, said releasable pivot being located at said tip portion and said clamp engaging the side members at the nose portion.

4. A chalk line dispensing and storage device comprising a casing of plumbbob configuration having an aperture in the top thereof, said casing including a pair of mating side members defining a chalk chamber and having longitudinally extending mating surfaces, a chalk line reel rotatably mounted in said chalk chamber, a chalk line mounted on the reel and extending from the chamber through said top aperture, said side members being interconnected by a releasable pivot including a shouldered recess in one of said members adjacent said mating surface and a depending flange in the other of said side members pivotably receivable within the recess for engagement with the shoulder, a mountable resilient clamp bridging said side members at a position remote from said releasable pivot and interconnected therewith to retain the mating surfaces in intimate engagement and prevent separation thereof, said mating surfaces having a snap-fit interconnection and said casing is provided with a chalk port having a cover slidable between open and closed positions.

5. A chalk line dispensing and storage device comprising a casing of plumbbob configuration having an aperture in the top thereof, said casing including a pair of mating side members defining a chalk chamber and having longitudinally extending mating surfaces, a chalk line reel rotatably mounted in said chalk chamber, a chalk line mounted on the reel and extending from the chamber through said top aperture, said side members being interconnected by a releasable pivot including a shouldered recess in one of said members adjacent said mating surface and a depending flange in the other of said side members pivotably receivable within the recess for engagement with the shoulder, a mountable resilient clamp bridging said side members at a position remote from said releasable pivot and interconnected therewith to retain the mating surfaces in intimate engagement and prevent separation thereof, said clamp is provided with a chalk line guide in registry with the top aperture of the casing. 

1. A chalk line dispensing and storage device comprising a casing of plumbbob configuration having an aperture in the top thereof, said casing including a pair of mating side members defining a chalk chamber and having longitudinally extending mating surfaces, a chalk line reel rotatably mounted in said chalk chamber, a chalk line mounted on the reel and extending from the chamber through said top aperture, said side members being interconnected by a releasable pivot including a shouldered recess in one of said members adjacent said mating surface and a depending flange in the other of said side members pivotably receivable within the recess for engagement with the shoulder, a mountable resilient clamp bridging said side members at a position remote from said releasable pivot and interconnected therewith to retain the mating surfaces in intimate engagement and prevent separation thereof, a compressible seal and a crank assembly mounted on one of said side members for engagement with said seal, said crank assembly including a drive shaft mounting the reel for rotation therewith, said casing side members axially biasing said crank assembly into frictional engagement with said seal to prevent free wheeling rotation of said reel while sealing the chalk chamber at said crank assembly.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said crank assembly has a hub portion, one of said side members has a hub portion and said reel is supported for rotation on the hub portions of both said crank assembly and said side member.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said casing is a rigid plastic member having relatively pointed tip and nose portions, said releasable pivot being located at said tip portion and said clamp engaging the side members at the nose portion.
 4. A chalk line dispensing and storage device comprising a casing of plumbbob configuration having an aperture in the top thereof, said casing including a pair of mating side members defining a chalk chamber and having longitudinally extending mating surfaces, a chalk line reel rotatably mounted in said chalk chamber, a chalk line mounted on the reel and extending from the chamber through said top aperture, said side members being interconnected by a releasable pivot including a shouldered recess in one of said members adjacent said mating surface and a depending flange in the other of said side members pivotably receivable within the recess for engagement with the shoulder, a mountable resilient clamp bridging said side members at a position remote from said releasable pivot and interconnected therewith to retain the mating surfaces in intimate engagement and prevent separation thereof, said mating surfaces having a snap-fit interconnection and said casing is provided with a chalk port having a cover slidable between open and closed positions.
 5. A chalk line dispensing and storage device comprising a casing of plumbbob configuration having an aperture in the top thereof, said casing including a pair of mating side members defining a chalk chamber and having longitudinally extending mating surfaces, a chalk line reel rotatably mounted in said chalk chamber, a chalk line mounted on the reel and extending from the chamber through said top aperture, said side members being interconnected by a releasable pivot including a shouldered recess in one of said meMbers adjacent said mating surface and a depending flange in the other of said side members pivotably receivable within the recess for engagement with the shoulder, a mountable resilient clamp bridging said side members at a position remote from said releasable pivot and interconnected therewith to retain the mating surfaces in intimate engagement and prevent separation thereof, said clamp is provided with a chalk line guide in registry with the top aperture of the casing. 